The Fur (& Feather!) Flyer

As a participant in a recent expo, HAWS received some internet-stream advertising on a local radio station.  While our actual commercial had to be abbreviated, the concept took us on a few tangents...our apologies to the restaurant personnel who didn't enjoy the creative process as much as we did!

"Mr. Sparkle Collar" - Unused Bits

REX:  You look great, Rex.  How's the new family?

SPIKE:  They're the best.  There's a couple of big ones and a couple of little ones...kinda loud, but I'm glad I found them at HAWS!

REX:  I got a hiker - Dog, we are in the woods all the time!  I'm glad I found him at HAWS, too.  (Conspiratorially to SPIKE):  Oh, great, here comes Mr. Sparkle-collar...

Mr. Sparkle Collar:  Hey guys!  What's a "HAWS"?

SPIKE:  You WISH you knew about HAWS...

Mr. Sparkle Collar:  Oh, HAWS - I have four of ‘em!

SPIKE:  Those are paws, Mr. Pedigree... HAWS is the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County.

REX:  It's a great place to find your new family...

SPIKE:  ...And to learn how to take care of your humans.

REX:  You know the place - over by the airport in Waukesha.

Mr. Sparkle Collar:  With all the big birds?

REX:  Those are planes, fuzzhead!

SPIKE (quietly to REX):  Clearly some over-breeding in this one...

REX:  You know, Waukesha has grown so much that HAWS is growing, too.

SPIKE:  I've heard that!  I also heard that besides taking care of animals, more than 31,000 people visit HAWS each year...

Mr. Sparkle Collar:  That's a lot of humans!

SPIKE:  ...and a lot of ‘em are looking for dogs, cats and even small animals like iguanas.

Mr. Sparkle Collar (shudders):  Iguanas scare me...

REX (quietly to SPIKE):  His shadow scares him... [to Mr. Sparkle Collar]  Iguanas are cool, even if they are bigger than you... 

By the way:  You can click on the Listen Live link on The Hog's website and you'll hear the actual commercial promoting our facility expansion, in rotation.  We are still working to acheive our fundraising goal of $1.86 million dollars - join us!

Last week at HAWS we were excitedly gearing up for our 25^th Anniversary Pet Walkathon on Saturday when...WHAMMO!

Streptococcus zooepidemicus bacterium.

It was a small bit of a relief getting word of the exact name of the mystery illness that took the lives of 7 dogs in our shelter.  We only had more questions:  Were the 2 dogs who were alive but showing symptoms going to make it?  Did we find out the treatment protocols soon enough to contain the illness from the rest of our dogs?  What else do we need to do?  How do you educate everyone about something that's still very much unknown?

Meanwhile, Bella and Raymond were not doing well.  Our kennel lead was occasionally making disruptive noises outside of Bella's cage - to roust her awake and "make sure she was still with us."  When you are used to hearing barking and being greeted by jumping and general canine excitement, it is devastating to see a dog that doesn't even have the energy to lift its head to acknowledge you.

What else could we do but administer meds, clean, wait, and hope?

On Sunday morning our caretakers first started noticing a marked improvement in Bella and Raymond's conditions.  We knew they were holding steady once the first meds were given, but the wagging tails on Monday morning were just what the doctor ordered.

Bella and Raymond were outside today for photo ops with the local media. 

It has never been so great to get doggy kisses.

By the way - HAWS is still OPEN - the only part of our facility that is on restriction is the dog kennel.  Please stop in - especially if you are looking to adopt a cat, rabbit or other small animal.  We are also gratefully accepting any donations to get us through - bleach, money to cover medications and tests...thanks in advance for your help!

Chris was a young human full of enthusiasm for life.  A newly-minted adult with stable employment and living alone, Chris decided to bring home a pet.  Chris looked in the paper, got a new pet named Buddy, and all was good.

Except Chris didn't have the amount of time needed to spend with Buddy.  Buddy spent lots of hours home alone, and when Chris was home, they didn't work together on learning proper pet behaviors.  Chris decided that, living alone, these otherwise unacceptable behaviors were fine, cute actually, and left Buddy to grow up into an adult pet, not knowing any better.

Sometime later, enter Pat.  Pat and Chris fell in love.  Even though Pat wasn't crazy about the way Buddy acted, Pat put up with Buddy because Pat loved Chris.  Besides, now that there were the 2 of them, Chris and Pat could work with Buddy together.  What a great way to bond!

But Buddy's bad behaviors were now learned behaviors and ingrained habits - hard habits to break after so much time.  Despite working with Buddy when Chris and Pat weren't at work or doing Chris and Pat together things, Buddy's behavior didn't improve much.  Chris and Pat forgot they could call us at HAWS for help.  (We even have a staff trainer/behaviorist that does 1-on-1 sessions!)

More time passed, and Chris and Pat decided to have a family.  Buddy didn't realize that humans and animals are different, and tried to treat the new little human, Jamie, like a littermate.  Chris and Pat decided that Buddy and Jamie couldn't co-exist, and Buddy would have to go.

Buddy came to HAWS with this profile:  "Buddy is wonderful and an awesome pet...but doesn't know how to act properly around humans.  Buddy needs work on this and that.   Buddy may have to live in a home with only adult humans."  Chris and Pat pleaded with the staff not to put Buddy to sleep, ever, and the HAWS staff promised to try their best!  But with Buddy's profile, they couldn't make any guarantees.  Immediately Buddy started working with HAWS' trainers and socializers, in hopes of making Buddy more adoptable.  Buddy joined the other available pets in the shelter looking for homes.

Chris, Pat, Jamie and Buddy's situation isn't unique.  A very common reason given for relinquishing a pet to us at HAWS is "not enough time."  When there's not enough time to train, care for, or work the pet into a busy life, the pet most often is the one that loses out.

Actually, Chris could have done a few things from the beginning to change this scenario.  A pet is a commitment for a lifetime - and with many pets living 12-18 years and longer, the pet owner needs to think about where life might take them over that time.  Going to get married?  Have a family?  Move to a different place?  Start working different hours?  Thinking logically now may avert the trauma later.  And take the time early on in your relationship with your pet to train and set guidelines.  A little hard work now can really pay off later on.

By the way - Buddy wonders what happened to Chris, Pat and Jamie.  Our hope is that every Buddy will find a new Chris, Pat and Jamie, and live happily ever after. And we have seminars and classes galore at HAWS to help make your relationship work, so YOUR Buddy hopefully doesn't have to end up in a shelter.

Today it is exactly one month until HAWS’ Annual Pet Walkathon – which is on May 3^rd, from 9am until 3pm at Waukesha’s Minooka Park.

The Walk is always a special event for us – we call it our “celebration of pets and their people.”  It is a day full of fun with our pets - dogs mostly, although we have one donor that brings his turtle and they do an amazing job of fundraising together!  We walk, play, shop and socialize, all in support of HAWS.

A neat highlight also this year is the German Shepherd Club of Wisconsin - one group that has been with us almost since the beginning.  In 2008 they are celebrating their 20^th year of participation in the HAWS walk, and we couldn’t be happier to have them with us!  This group alone has raised over $66,000 during their years of Walking.

Normally HAWS promotes a Pet of the Week.  But, like most everyone else, we’ve become victims of March Madness!  So, in the spirit of the season, we’re presenting…

HAWS bracket is complete!  We have some lively competition and a few genuine underdogs (get it?  Under DOGS!), but overall it is a strong field.

Representing the Northwest Region are Dash the Westie, Alaster the Collie/Shepherd, Piggy the Pit Bull and Wilbur the Rottweiler (both pictured).  We expect a strong showing from Dash, but don’t be surprised if Wilbur makes things interesting in this region. 

From the Southwest we have Carter the Lab (pictured), Vince and Oliver the young Pit Bulls, and the Dynamic Duo of Cagney and Lacey – this Poodle and Shih Tzu combo are veterans and will make it hard for the boys to advance beyond the first round. 

Out of the Northeast are Sonny the Terrier mix, Xena the Husky, Bella the Beagle and Wren the Lab.  This region shows the most diversity within our bracket.  It will be anybody’s horse race coming out of the Northeast!

Finally, rounding out the field from the Southeast are Josh the Terrier (pictured), Red the Lab/Terrier, Mocha the Lab and Captain, also a Lab.  The early favorite is Mocha, with Red turning some heads and changing some minds…

Okay, no, we’re not having an actual tournament – and, honestly, there are no losers in this bracket!  We are, however, using the fun this time of year to promote the overabundance of wonderful adoptable dogs currently living at HAWS.  Come in to the shelter from March 26 through April 6 and receive a leash/collar set with each dog adoption, along with a doggy treat bag.  All dog adopters will also have the chance to win fun prizes like ½ off their adoption fees, HAWS merchandise, dog toys, discounts on training classes and training books.

Now is a great time to bring home your best friend.  I mean...TEAMMATE!
 

By the way - Don’t worry, cat fans!  The felines will be taking over the building soon enough – you’ve heard of the World Series of Cats, right...?

Just in time for Easter - and a little late for St. Pat's Day...a bunny success story: 
Music Appreciation - Miss Bella.pdf. 

Did you know that, along with dogs and cats, HAWS also adopts out small animals?  Over the last decade, rabbits in particular have become very popular as pets – but they are more labor-intensive than most people realize.

For $4.00, you can buy a ceramic pin at HAWS that looks like a chocolate bunny - to help spread the message that rabbits should not be casually acquired, and to educate the public about their special needs.  A card that is distributed with each pin lists important facts that should be considered before bringing a rabbit home as a pet.

Our goal is to educate the public of the challenges of properly caring for rabbits and to encourage them to purchase chocolate Easter bunnies (or stuffed toy animals) rather than live rabbits!  So go ahead, indulge the RIGHT craving, and “Make Mine Chocolate!”™

By the way – when you’ve done your research and you’re truly prepared for a rabbit in your household, come to HAWS.  We have PLENTY of them available for adoption, all 12 months of the year.  Some of HAWS' rabbits currently up for adoption are pictured throughout this blog posting.  Move your mouse across their pictures to learn more about them.

Hannah was a Pit Bull that had wandered throughout the Little Muskego Lake area for several years before she finally found sanctuary at HAWS.  There was talk of making her an official “mascot” - she was such a favorite of the staff, volunteers and visitors.  Ultimately, though, the goal was to find Hannah a home and family ready to understand her.

One of HAWS Kids ‘n Critters Summer Camp counselors agreed to foster Hannah for a time, but, the actual task of getting Hannah home with Tracey and Jeff was no easy feat.  You see, Jeff hasn’t always been comfortable with dogs due to an incident when he was a child.  And Tracey had already asked Jeff to “share” her with Boris, a 7-year-old Rottweiler.

Fortunately, the relationship between man and man’s best friend grew to the point where now, Tracey says, “Jeff went from germ freak to rolling on the floor with a Pit Bull and Rottweiler – slobber, hair and all!”  They made Hannah an official member of the family by adopting her permanently on Wednesday, October 3, 2007.

Hannah and Boris have forged a typical brother-sister relationship.  If Hannah has a toy, Boris wants it, but, many times you will find them cuddling together.  There was also the night that Boris was caught sneaking bones from his treat container - while Hannah stole the London broil from the counter top!

Hannah’s well-being is still a popular topic at HAWS.  “Many people from the shelter come up to me and thank us for taking her.  But I choose to think we are the lucky ones!  Hannah has been a wonderful addition to our family.  She adds so much love.  We feel truly blessed and so grateful to have her in our lives.”

By the way – Animals staying at HAWS do not have a time limit.  We are committed to finding homes for all adoptable animals placed in our care – even if it takes some extra time, like Hannah.

NEWSFLASH:  HAWS IS IN DIRE NEED OF TOWELS - BOTH BATH TOWELS AND LARGER HAND TOWELS.  IF YOU HAVE SOME LYING AROUND AT HOME YOU'D LIKE TO DONATE, WE'D LOVE TO TAKE THEM OFF YOUR HANDS!  AND NEXT TIME YOU'RE AT THE HEALTH CLUB, ASK THEM IF THEY HAVE A FEW EXTRAS TO SPARE.  THANK YOU!!!

A few months ago HAWS Humane Educator, Khris, started posting videos of our adoptable animals on our website’s Pet Showcase.  We have a picture database of adoptable pets through a group called Petfinder (check out 3 of our current adoptables pictured below - Grissom, Misty, and Oliver - you can move your mouse across their pictures to learn more about them), and the capability for action as well as still shots was introduced.

What an amazing innovation this has been for our available pets!

Visitors to our website most often gravitate to the Adopt-A-Pet section.  Whether you’re looking for a new best friend or just window shopping, it is a lot of fun to see the tail-wagging and smiling animal faces on your computer screen.  But now, thanks to modern technology, you can not only see our adoptables strike a pose, but also romp and play to their own theme songs.

The resulting success stories are extremely gratifying.  Here are 2 of our favorites:

Benson and Sophie are 2 older Lab mixes that were surrendered together due to a family hitting a rough patch financially.  Benson, a 12-year-old, and Sophie, a 10-year-old, needed a quiet home to live out their days.  We were committed to adopting them out together because they had bonded in their previous home over the many years.  They spent about 6 weeks in the shelter with on-again, off-again interest, but no serious takers.  Then they got their own music video…and within 48 hours they were adopted into a home that is thrilled to have them both.

Minnie was found as a stray along with another kitten and brought in for adoption.  However, Minnie was missing an eye!  She was in perfect health otherwise, but it was found she’d prefer to be an only cat.  Her video was the hook that brought in her eventual adopters.  How could they resist that face?

Pictures may be worth a thousand words - check out the mugs on this page!  But videos are the call to action - just ask Sophie, Benson, and Minnie.

Children are our future…in so many ways!  It is our duty to guide them to be caring, responsible adults, to show them right and wrong, good and bad.  That duty is one we take seriously at HAWS, because we know that if we start educating our youth, they will turn into animal-savvy adults.

Khris is our Humane Educator here at HAWS.  Most weeks she has a very full calendar of giving shelter tours, visiting schools, planning activities for our summer and winter kids’ camps…along with organizing educational seminars and holding dog training classes for all ages – human and canine. 

She also houses a pet snake in her office.  Very cool – ask any fourth-grader.

A program Khris started just recently was featured in the February 18 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Teachers in our area can foster one of HAWS homeless small animals (like mice, gerbils, hamsters, birds, guinea pigs) as a classroom pet.  This not only increases awareness of adoptable “pocket pets” at our shelter, but also gives the students a chance to learn about these animals and their needs – and the responsibilities involved in pet ownership.  Six pets are currently out in classrooms – and Khris would be happy to talk with any interested teachers about the program (262-542-8851, x118).

Daisy Troop #2551 came to HAWS on February 15 for a tour of the shelter.  The girls learned about the ways animals end up at HAWS, how we take care of them, and that we are looking for good homes for adoptable pets.  After the tour the girls had an opportunity to meet several animals and learn a little bit about them.  Official “Humane Education Dog” Mystic (pictured here with the troop) was a big hit – and he greatly enjoyed the fully body massage!

Khris does several off-site after school programs, including one at Saratoga School in Waukesha.  Recently the students participating were asked to draw pictures that would reflect a lesson they have learned about animal welfare – you can click on the thumbnails for a larger view of their drawings.

We think animal welfare will be in good hands far into the future.

By the way – “Kids’n Critters” is also the name of our very popular summer and winter kids’ day camps.  We’re enrolling now for summer sessions – visit www.hawspets.org/kids_camp.html to learn more and download a registration form.

It’s not always about domestic animals at HAWS.  Some days we wonder:  are we being Punk’d?!?  Just all in a day’s work at your favorite local Humane Society….

A call came into the shelter one evening in mid-September from the City of Waukesha Police Department.  A young adult ferret out for a stroll had wandered into one of Waukesha’s adult beverage proprietors.  He was unable to show proper I.D. – actually, he wasn’t wearing pants so he had no pockets to keep I.D. in anyway.

Being responsible barkeeps, the management called the police to report this obviously underage citizen, and in turn, Waukesha’s finest called HAWS to assist with the apprehension.  (Possibly the handcuffs were too large?)

The ferret was brought back to the shelter.  He was admitted to HAWS "sick bay" and nursed back to good health, while making friends with another ferret hangin’ at HAWS for a time.  Shortly he was adopted along with his new ferret buddy.  Hopefully the 2 boys will stay out of trouble and not become regulars at any other local taverns.  At least not until they’re old enough.  And can climb up on the stools properly.

BUT WAIT!  THERE’S MORE!

No “fowl” play was involved in the safe return of a turkey to its home in November.  A report of a wandering bird turned into the apprehension of a literal Peeping Tom.  A male Red Bourbon domestic turkey was hanging around a Pewaukee Road office park, looking into windows.  Several employees reported the feathered marauder to HAWS.

Mark Hess, HAWS Operations Manager and known wildlife wrangler, responded to the area.  “I approached him, tucked him under my arm and loaded him into our van.  It was pretty obvious this bird was used to humans.”

HAWS staff was concerned that this bird’s fate would be as a Thanksgiving feast.  So, Mark went out to knock on a few doors in the neighborhood to search for the owner.  Hess knew he’d found the right place when he drove into a driveway to see several chickens and, yes, about a dozen turkeys in the backyard.  The tom’s owner was ecstatic to hear her baby, whom she’d raised from a chick, was safe and sound.  Bird and owner were reunited later that day, and the prized pet was home in plenty of time to be part of the family’s Thanksgiving festivities -- just not as the main course.

The Christmas Goose also made an appearance at HAWS earlier this winter.  A gentleman found the barnyard variety bird near his home in the Town of Genesee.  He wanted to take the bird to a farm but, alas, wasn’t acquainted with any farmers.  So, the bird arrived at HAWS needing a new roost, and not one labeled “General Electric.”  HAWS staff contacted a lady from Iron Ridge who had a hobby farm and was looking for more avian residents.  The goose is now happily flocking with other birds of her feather.

February 26^th is this year’s date for the annual Spay Day USA, a national awareness program sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).  The purpose of Spay Day is to promote spaying and neutering as a means to control pet overpopulation.

Good idea.

There are still more companion animals looking for homes than there are homes for them to live in.  Just as an example:  did you know that an unspayed female cat and her first litter can be responsible for the births of close to 500,000 kittens in their lifetimes?  It seems unreal, but if you consider that litters average 6-7 kittens, with a female cat being able to have a litter every 2-3 months…it adds up pretty quickly!

HAWS is celebrating Spay Day USA 2008 by offering  a free spay and neuter program for the companion pets of individuals in Waukesha County who apply and qualify.  We have applications and more info on our website (www.hawspets.org/snip.html).  If you or anyone you know is interested, please surf on over and see if this is the right option for you.  If it isn’t, please still contact your veterinarian and have your pets sterilized - NOW.

If you are “for” spaying and neutering pets and would like to help out, we’d love that, too!!  We’re asking our community to “Sponsor A Spay” by donating to help cover the expenses of one or more procedures.  Donations of $5…$25…$75…whatever – all will be a big help.  AND it will make you feel good – helping our neighbors while working to control pet overpopulation.

HAWS’ Spay Neuter Initiative Program has been providing spay-neuter services for our own shelter animals and others since 2001.  We also work with breed rescues to help them control their pet health-care costs while they also place homeless animals in our community.  (Check out Shooter to the right – he’s a retired racing Greyhound available for adoption thru our partnership with Greyhounds Only breed rescue.)  And, the SNIP clinic has a year-round program to assist the low-income pet-owners of Waukesha County.  Financial strain doesn’t discriminate - it can happen to pet lovers as well as anyone.

We’re here to help.

It’s a pretty ubiquitous bumper-sticker:  “Have you hugged your dog/cat today?”

Lots of pet owners can smile inwardly at that and respond in the positive.  The benefits of pet ownership are widely reported – lower blood pressure and stress levels, better overall health from daily walks with the dog, etc.

But how many of us can say we’ve “hugged” a dog or cat today – as a part of our job?

Before you get the wrong idea, hear me out:  we’re not advocating the actual “hugging” of any animal – especially a dog.  (Dogs see hugging as a sign of dominance – don’t go there unless you’re ready for a trip to the E.R…!) 

This is more about the pluses of working at an animal shelter:  it doesn’t bring you great monetary wealth, but there are some other very amazing benefits!  How many people can take a break on a stressful day, go grab a cat and cuddle for awhile, or leash up a dog from the room next to them and head out for some fresh air – while on the clock, no less!  And this not only benefits the stressed out worker, but it is great socialization for the pet.  Not a bad health plan for all involved.

Life at a humane society is unique.  Emotional.  Sometimes controversial.  But never, ever is it dull.  And never is there a shortage of adoptable animals willing to help with that stress issue, or even in need of a little help of their own.

Socializing pets is extremely important.  When a pet is socialized, it is more likely to be considered well-behaved.  Pets look to us for cues, but they also draw on experience to indicate what is appropriate:  if a dog has been exposed to many different people and situations, it will be calmer in the face of the unknown.  Cats are an independent species, but that next trip to the vet will go much more smoothly if your feline is used to being handled.  House rabbits blossom with human attention, as do other small animals.  Human-pet interaction at HAWS makes our animals more adoptable, which is the best end result. 

Even if you don’t work here, you can “hug” a dog or cat today, too - or a rabbit or ferret or....  We’re always looking for volunteers to help as dog-walkers, cat socializers, small animal exercisers – whatever species is your favorite.  Who knows, some day you could become a snake handler!

But that’s another story…

What a concept!  Save the planet and the environment by going green!  Reduce, reuse…hey wait a minute…

Apparently we at HAWS have been on the cutting edge for years:  animal shelters have always been into recycling.  Think about it:  the pet your family adopted from the humane society probably came from someone else initially.  By giving it a second home and a second chance…you’ve recycled.

Okay, that isn’t very warm and fuzzy, but it should still make you feel good.  You’re making a difference -- you’re a super hero! 

Pet rescuer saves planet!

But when have you done enough?

Often HAWS employees are asked “How can you work there and not take everything home?”  Admittedly, it usually doesn’t take a new employee too long before they’ve adopted their first pet.  Spouses and significant others of shelter employees just roll their eyes when asked if they are ready for another pet.  It goes with the territory.

We have all experienced at least one time when a certain animal really got to us – we saw something special in the eyes, made a bond - just connected.  And if the timing was right, we have taken that pet home to join our own family.  But, we have a duty as shelter workers to also know when to say when.  Also, many cities have restrictions on how many pets residents may have -- we must set an example and uphold those laws. 

There is also the limitation of hours in a day.  Our lives are so busy these days, a pet owner needs to consider if they can truly devote the proper amount of time to each new furry, feathered or finned friend.  In fact, one of the most common reasons animals are surrendered to shelters is the owner realizes they don’t have time for their pet.  Your heart can be in the right place, but your life may not allow it.  There’s no shame in knowing your own limits – and staying within them!

Saving an animal is noble, but no one person can save them all.  So you do what you can as an individual, and have faith that there are others like you out there also doing their part. 

Every little bit counts.  A lot!  And a dog like Cyclone, pictured at right, might be just the little bit you're ready for...

By the way – it’s cold outside!  Please keep your pets indoors to protect them from frostbite and hypothermia.